The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-01
RATS IN A MeNAGeR!E-
A Reporters Experience with q Parior
Iife-uonkcys, Rats, Birds, Mice.

The reporter followed Mr.. Reiche into a
little back Office. where fifteen or twenty
bullfinches were ranged In tiny wooden
cages against the wall. Mr.. Reiche drew
two chairs up 10 big window which
opened on q small yard rooted In with
glass like dollhouse. The reporter sat
down In one chair and Mr.. Reiche took
the other. "Arc you good shotT' the
latter asked as be reached back 70 his
desk and produced a small % CALDER par
Tor rifle
Il was once connected with n paper
published in Tombstone, A. T., began
the reporter, "and"---
SAY no more; that'll DO. f" broke IN Mr.
Reiche But | asked YOU for a very
good reason. You see, don't mind your
shooting all the rats you want, but
would rather you would coniine yourself
TO them"
"But where are the ratsfn
cont in the yard. Keep quiet and
they'll show themselves.
The reporter kept quiet and looked ont
into the yard 10 was not like any back
yard he had ever seen before. On one
side Of IL We're piled number OF wooden
boxes with iron bars in front OF them.
The boxes were ranged against the fence
in long rows one above the other In them
were about two dozen monkeys of various
breeds. six months old mountain lion,
several jackals, few badgers, porcu-
pine, three white c0ckatoos and any mum
Der Of rose cOlored ones, a boa constructor
two large balloons, nest Of feathery
squirrels, some swans and an antelope
Scattered in the cages and on the ground
were pieces Of bread bits OF crackers, kerr
nels Of corn and bird seed, which the well
fed and careless animals had wasted This
food is what attracts the rats and mice,
and az night great numbers Of them
scamper about the place and wax fatter
and fatter at Mr. Reiohe's expense
II must have been an of day for rats,
however, for only seven made their APP
pearance during the half hour which the
reporter put In trying 90 shoot them. 10
was lots Of fun, though, and every animal
in the place seemed 10 enjoy 10. When
ever the little rife would crack like whip
and pun Of white smoke would announce
the death OF a rat an the monkeys would
chatter and express their approval by un-
mistakable signs
The rats were an big fellows and as fat
as prison warden. Mr. Reiche says
they are very fierce and cause him much
trouble. lone of them nearly killed the
little lion the other night. Doe said. "Ihe
lion has been in the habit of killing all
the rats that came within lbs reach 10
grabs them by the back the same as d ter
rier does and shakes the life ont 0f them
l. h.n' d NU fHI.H
night. though and the rat managed 20
bite it in the nose. When the men came
here in the morning they found tho lion
lying half dead from the loss OF blood and
il has not fully recovered yet I bathed
the wound with alum water and fed the
sick beast on live pigeons 20 tempt It's ap-
petite II is n0w much better
"Wiu the monkeys KIN ratsy
mo, the monkeys pay mo- attention 10
them 40 all / think they are afraid of
them. All the cat animals kill rats when
ever they get a chance. and the CocSutoos |
and swans are great rat slayers. The bo- /
constructor never gets a chance 90 show /
what De can a., rs the ra,s avoid las cast
as II by instinct
"D0n't the rats eat good many o |
= hNA nNlNtA N.ANIn
"Thcy can't get the chance, as I hav' /
had all The rooms lined with tin 20 keep F.
them out Sometimes, however they .
sneak in during thc day. when Che doors /
lre open. and at night lill a lot Of cana I
rics or other small birds. Tho store is +
1yerrW with mice, but there is SO much T.
seed scattered about that they don I
bother the birds az ALL II a bird is sick .
and dies during the night the mice will .
EAT IT,, but they never attack live one. /
There is too much other food lying around /
which they like better
The rat hunt kept up until 10 was too .
lark 90 see 20 shoot any more and the
.cc0rd stood six dead rats 90 seven shots
Mr. Reche has killed as many as fifteen
big rats with his little rifle In an h0urand
IAN hit them every time on Che run. j.
locsnt seem 90 make any difference how
many are killed, the supply seems 90 be
a pair Of ferrcts were
turned loose in the place several years
lgo bur they proved more Of a nuisance
han the rats, and one night killed
humber Of the fine sand Hill cranes
New York Evening sun.